Huntington Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A convicted felon who illegally possessed firearms was sentenced to two years and nine months imprisonment today, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced. Jonathan Kyle Masters, 30, of Huntington, West Virginia, previously pleaded guilty to illegal possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

In December of 2012, police officers found a handgun in Masters’ car after he was caught shoplifting ammunition from Cabela’s in Charleston, West Virginia. Shortly thereafter, federal agents executed a search warrant at Masters’ Huntington, West Virginia home where they seized two more pistols, a shotgun, and numerous rounds of ammunition.

In 2007, Masters was convicted in Wayne County, West Virginia of wanton endangerment and possession of a deadly weapon on premises of educational facilities, both felonies. As a result of these convictions, Masters was not permitted to possess any firearm.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime. This case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Huntington Police Department. The sentence was imposed by Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers. Special Assistant United States Attorney Sharon M. Frazier handled the prosecution.